Illinois vs Missouri
Registering a new $35,000 vehicle costs about $3,291 in Illinois versus $3,470 in Missouri — a $179 first-year advantage for Illinois.
Cost comparison
| Illinois | Missouri | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-year total All-in cost to register a new $35,000 gas vehicle for the first time, including sales tax, title, and registration. | $3,291 | $3,470 | −$179 |
| Annual renewal (year 2+) Recurring annual cost after the first year — what you actually pay every year you own the car. | $151 | $506 | −$355 |
| Sales tax (one-time) Sales/use/excise tax owed at purchase on a $35,000 vehicle, using typical local rates. | $2,975 | $2,879 | +$96 |
| Combined sales tax rate State rate plus typical local rate (where applicable). | 8.50% | 8.22% | +0.28 pp |
| EV first-year total Same $35K scenario but as a battery electric vehicle, capturing EV-specific surcharges. | $3,391 | $3,620 | −$229 |
| EV annual renewal Recurring EV-ownership cost in year 2+. | $251 | $656 | −$405 |
| EV surcharge Annual EV-specific registration fee (zero in states without one). | $100 | $150 | −$50 |
How each state structures it
Illinois
Illinois has one of the highest base passenger registration fees in the country at $151/year, with a similarly high one-time title fee of $165. Combined with sales tax that can hit 10%+ in the Chicago metro area, Illinois is among the most expensive states for vehicle ownership. The state sales tax is 6.25%, but local additions can push combined rates much higher — Cook County and Chicago add roughly 3% combined, putting central Chicago at 9.5-10.25%. Illinois restored full trade-in credit on vehicle sales tax in January 2022 after a brief period (2020-2021) when trade-in credit was capped at $10,000. Electric vehicles pay an additional $100/year surcharge, bringing the BEV registration to $251/year. A new $35,000 vehicle in a 1%-local-rate county runs about $2,850-2,900 in first-year costs; in central Chicago that climbs to $3,900+.
Missouri
Missouri's vehicle costs have an unusual shape: small state DMV fees (typically $33/year registration based on taxable horsepower, $11 title, $11 plate), but a meaningful annual personal property tax assessed by counties at roughly 1.8% effective rate (state average, after the 33⅓% assessment ratio) on the vehicle's NADA value. The property tax is the dominant ongoing cost: a $35,000 vehicle in St. Louis County (~6% county rate) pays about $595/year in property tax alone, dropping as the vehicle depreciates. Sales tax is 4.225% state plus local 0-5.875% — Missouri requires buyers to pay sales tax at their local DOR office within 30 days of purchase, not at the dealer. Missouri is one of about 20 states with no EV surcharge as of 2026. A new $35,000 vehicle in a typical Missouri county runs about $3,535 in first-year costs, with annual renewals around $568.
What this means for you
- Buying a new car: Illinois is roughly $179 cheaper than Missouri in the first year on a $35K vehicle, driven mostly by sales tax and one-time fees.
- Annual renewal: Illinois is cheaper to renew annually by about $355/year. Over a 5-year ownership period that's roughly $1,774 in renewal-fee savings alone.
- If you drive an EV: Illinois's EV surcharge ($100/year) is meaningfully lower than Missouri's ($150/year) — a 33% savings on the EV fee alone.
- Structural differences: Missouri charges an annual ad valorem property tax on vehicles (renewals stay expensive as long as you own the car), while Illinois does not — over a 10-year hold this can swing thousands of dollars toward Illinois.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to register a car in Illinois or Missouri?
Illinois is cheaper to register a new $35,000 vehicle: $3,291 first year vs $3,470 in Missouri, and the gap continues into annual renewals.
What is the sales tax difference between Illinois and Missouri?
Illinois charges 8.50% combined sales tax on vehicles; Missouri charges 8.22%. On a $35,000 purchase that's $2,975 in Illinois vs $2,879 in Missouri.
Do Illinois and Missouri both charge EV registration fees?
Illinois: $100/year EV surcharge. Missouri: $150/year EV surcharge. EV fees are added on top of standard registration costs.
Official sources: Illinois Secretary of State • MO DOR
Data last updated: 2026-05-23